Watervliet City School District
Watervliet, New York
Board of Education
Date: October 11, 2018
Type of Meeting: Regular Meeting
Meeting Opened: 6:02 P.M.
Where: Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School
Board Members Present: President, Sheri Senecal
Vice President, Heather Soroka
Steven Hoffman
Board Members Absent: Mary Beth Whited
Amanda Cavanaugh
Superintendent: Dr. Lori S. Caplan
Student Council Rep: Miranda Luck
The meeting was opened at 6:02 P.M., with President Sheri Senecal officiating.
Comments from the Floor
Mrs. Boardman read a thank-you note from Beth Jones, a former student who is on tonight’s agenda for approval to student teach at the Watervliet Elementary School.
Old Business
There was no old business to be discussed.
Board, Staff and Student Reports
- 2017-18 Student Data & What We Do With It Presentation Donald Stevens
- First Reading of Revised Policy:
Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy
Items Requiring Board Action
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Board of Education Minutes for the meeting held September 13, 2018, submitted by Bernadette L. Boardman, Clerk of the Board, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Special Education’s recommendations for the meetings held September 25, September 27 and September 28, 2018, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Committee on Pre-School Special Education’s recommendations for the meeting held September 19, 2018, submitted by Janelle Yanni, CPSE Chair, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the Substitute Registry submitted by BOCES, as recommended by the Superintendent (packets #4 and #5).
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Treasurer’s Reports for the month of August 2018, submitted by Keith Heid, Business Manager, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Schedule of Warrants & Payrolls
- Revenue Status Report
- Cash & Investments
- Appropriation Status Report
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved one (1) 2018 Summer School Special Education Transportation Contract Extension between Star & Strand and the Watervliet City School District at a cost of $35,239.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved thirty (30) 2018-2019 Regular School Year Special Education Transportation Contract Extensions between Star & Strand and the Watervliet City School District at a cost of $1,120,012.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved one (1) 2018-2019 Regular School Transportation Contract Extensions between Durham Transportation and the Watervliet City School District at a cost of $251,121.00, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the resignation of Emily Constable from the position of Cafeteria Worker at the Watervliet Elementary School, effective September 24, 2018, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency appointment of Deborah Bendon to the position of Long-Term Substitute Math Teacher, Grades 7-12, in the tenure area of Mathematics, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning September 17, 2018, at a Step 1 salary plus master’s degree and credit hours, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the emergency appointment of Rebecca Brown to the position of Long-Term Substitute School Social Worker, Grades 7-12, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, beginning September 19, 2018, at a rate of $125.00 per diem, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the appointment of the following staff to the position of ExTRA Grant After School Program Substitutes for the 2018 – 2019 school year, at a rate as per contract, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Denise Cusack
- Samantha Spano
- Juliana Chromik
- Michele DeGuire
- Gina Smith
- Mary Vogt
- Kelly Sayward
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following resolution:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the requirement of Education Law Section 3012-c and Part 30-2.9 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, the individuals named below have completed all the necessary training to be recertified as lead evaluators of classroom teachers;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby recertifies the following individuals as lead evaluators of classroom teachers:
- Kirsten DeMento
- Michael Fous
- Ryan Groat
- Loida Lewinter
- Don Stevens
- Janelle Yanni
- Kelly Webster
- David Wareing
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following resolution:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the requirements of Education Law Section 3012-c and Part 30-2.9 of the Rules of the Board of Regents, the individual named below has completed all the necessary training to be recertified as lead evaluator of building principals;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby recertifies the following individual as lead evaluator of building principals:
- Dr. Lori S Caplan
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the creation of a new HVCC English 120 – Communications course to students in Grades 9-12, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School beginning in the 2018 – 2019 school year, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the creation of a new HVCC English 136 – Media and Culture course to students in Grades 9-12, at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School beginning in the 2018 – 2019 school year, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the creation of a new Gardening Club at the Watervliet Elementary School for the 2018 – 2019 school year, to be funded by the $500.00 donation from the Arsenal City Kids, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the home schooling request of Rosemary Stockwell for her child, Morgan Stockwell, Grade 7, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the home schooling request of Amanda Brozowski for her child, Collon Buxton, Grade 9, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the home schooling request of Heather Manfred for her child, John P. Manfred, Grade K, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the home schooling request of Dominic and Jennifer Sunukjian for their children, Sophia G. Sunukjian, Grade 8; Mary Sunukjian, Grade 9; and Samuel Sunukjian, Grade 5, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the home schooling request of Joanne and Michael Moore for their child, Michael Moore, Grade 8, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the collection of data for a study that utilizes non-identifying student information to determine student math fluency and word recognition accuracy, as outlined in the attached, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Student Teacher/Observer requests at the Watervliet Elementary School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name: Beth Jones
Role: Observer
Cooperating Teacher: Khalan Heid
Dates: October 12 – December 5, 2018 - Name: Hope Connors
Role: Observer
Cooperating Teacher: Marypat Murtagh and Kate Diaco
dates: October 12 – December 5, 2018 - Names: Kati Abel, Shannon Ruzzo, and Samual Huttig
Roles: Observer
Cooperating Teacher: Samantha Spano
dates: October 12 – December 5, 2018 - Name: Michaela Rogers
Role: Observer
Cooperating Teachers:Jeanne Lance and Kim Tallmadge
Dates: October 12 – December 5, 2018 - Name: Beth Jones
Role: Student Teacher
Cooperating Teacher: Jeanne Lance
Dates: January 4 – March 8, 2019
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board approved the following Student Teacher/Observer request at the Watervliet Jr. – Sr. High School, as outlined below, as recommended by the Superintendent:
- Name: Erin Darmetko
Role: Observer
Cooperating Teacher: Theresa Bradway
Dates: October 15, 2018 – May 13, 2018
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks, a check from the BelleJar Foundation in the amount of $62,616.00, to fund the Pivot Program, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of Mulch and Wood Chips from J.R. Inglis, on behalf of The Gallivan Company, to the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of backpacks filled with school supplies from CapCom to the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of notebooks, folders, crayons, pencils and bookmarks from Michelle Fernandez, on behalf of The Watervliet Public Library to the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of notebooks, folders, crayons and pencils from Bethany Presbyterian Church to the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of notebooks, folders, crayons and pencils from Amanda and Carol Ann Cavanaugh to the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of paint for classroom rocks from Sherwin Williams to the Watervliet Elementary School, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Heather Soroka, seconded by Steven Hoffman and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted, with thanks the donation of $1,000.00 from The Arsenal City Kids to the Watervliet City School District, as recommended by the Superintendent.
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka and unanimously accepted, the Board accepted the Internal Claims Auditor Report for the month of September 2018, submitted by Michaeleen Backus, as recommended by the Superintendent.
New Business
There was no new business to be discussed.
Comments from the Floor
Dr. Caplan shared the following:
- I was involved in Friday’s professional development. There was great conversation and staff members were really engaged. We have received a lot of positive feedback.
- On October 17, members of the WPD, WFD and District Administrators will be conducting a tabletop session on school security from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The Food Bank Phone-A-Thon was held last week. People were very generous. - The district has applied for a 3-year-old UPK grant. If awarded, the program would start in January at the former Maplewood school.
Miranda Luck, Student Council Representative, shared the following:
- School pictures were taken and are being distributed. School ID’s will be coming soon.
- The annual Movember fundraiser will be held again this year. In the last for years, $1,800.00 has been raised for the American Cancer Society. The selfie contest was very successful last year. Student Council is looking at new ideas for this year’s contest.
Mrs. Webster noted that the school store will be reopening. We are working with the Business Department and we are hoping to stock the store with proceeds from a Donor’s Choose campaign. Lots of people are involved. We are hoping to launch on November 1.
Mrs. Lewinter shared the following:
- The Halloween parade will be held in the morning this year, beginning at 9:20 a.m. This is different from previous years, where it was held in the afternoon.
- Teachers are still talking about last week’s PD, providing great feedback and kudos to Mr. Stevens.
Mr. Groat noted the following:
- The Mentoring Program is off to a great start. Every student has been matched with an adult. This program, coupled with changes in food and the school-based health center, is creating a positive environment.
- Mr. O. covered 10/11 grade PSAT’s. Students worked very hard and are more prepared for the SAT.
Mr. Foust shared the following:
- Fall Sports Night was pushed back to Thursday November 1 at 6:00 p.m.
- Senior Nights for football and soccer were held.
- Seniors paired up and working with JV students worked out well. It was a success.
Adjournment
On a motion by Steven Hoffman, seconded by Heather Soroka, and unanimously accepted, the Board adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bernadette L. Boardman
Clerk of the Board